Vetements presented a series of tailored looks where everything matched among the more expected streetwear and denim pieces his brand has come to be known for – including some styles that had been rendered in a chequered pattern and texture reminiscent of Tati shopping bags. Standout looks included a wide-lapelled belted raincoat over a shirt and overlong pants, all in a striking blue and red plaid.

Now, we absolutely believe that stripes can be worn by all shapes and sizes, but if you’re looking for a specific pattern to flatter your shape, here are some options. In 1988, we started selling striped shirts through national newspaper adverts and in selective magazines. We featured in publications as varied as The Times, Private Eye, New Musical Express, Country Life to even Viz – and the stripe is as popular today as it always was. Embrace the catwalk clashing look by teaming contrasting tops and bottoms, or keep it simple with a striped midi dress and tonal accessories. It’s long been understood that summer style is defined by nautical striped clothing, from dresses to sweaters. But the classic pattern is getting a 2022 makeover, thanks to new bold, exaggerated lines and a mixture of unexpected colorways.

Tops

Tapping on the dopamine trend, designers across London, Milan, Paris and New York embraced bright colours, tie-dyes and ombrés adding a ‘rainbow effect’ sort of vibe to their pieces. Stripes of every kind are reimagined in vibrant colourways, placing an emphasis on the phrase – ‘the bolder the better’. A kitsch take on conversation prints takes centre stage as people all over the world resort to voicing their opinions to bring about radical social and political change. Placement prints and flat florals add to the essence of Spring in general. The Spring/Summer 2023 runways were awash with the return of the ‘preppy’ look, especially in a big way for the men’s segment, wherein the trend is being showcased with a new twist: less Ivy League, more ‘sport street’. Taking the retro route for SS22, models at Fendi, Brandon Maxwell and Jil Sander sashayed down the runway in bright, showstopping gowns. In London, Burberry presented a twist on its traditional raincoat over matching pants, rendered in neutral tones while at New York, Adam Lippes showed a dirndl style skirt with a matching ruffled top and tall sunhat.

For Spring/Summer 2023 season, inspiration continues to come from both the natural and the virtual worlds, as print and pattern trends continue to expand on the underlying theme of highlighting environmental or social issues – expressing the need of the times. Balancing the massive influx of dopamine-inspired colourways, mismatched prints and maximalist patterns, we see a new wave of neutrals sweeping the runways – posing as the perfect yin to the yang. Thom started his career in the fashion world working as a tailor, a passion that’s translated into his future collections. He then went on to become a salesman for luxury fashion label Giorgio Armani and later a designer for Club Monaco. In 2004 he launched his first collection of ready-to-wear menswear, comprising of made to measure suits in classic navy and grey flannel, a theme that runs through his collections season after season. The 1958 Act of France saw navy seamen in the area given a striped woven top bearing 21 horizontal stripes (one for each of Napoleon’s victories) as a uniform, known as a ‘matelot’ or ‘marinière.” says the author over at The Good Trade.

Nautical

Successful stripe-wearing is all in the styling. Take one striped piece as a focal point. The shirt is a great starting point: Kitri’s frilled shirt (1 below), or La Redoute’s long-sleeved version (8 below), are both perfect to style with denim from wide-leg jeans to a mini skirt, finished with chunky loafers. Stripes are basically the neutral of prints so they easily work paired with a contrasting print. Mixing stripes with other patterns will elevate your outfit to uber-cool in no time! We are all for outrageous print medleys and we say the bolder the better in this instance. Try to choose one print to dominate and one as an accent and make sure the prints are of different textures if you can. Make sure you have the right proportions because usually, prints of different scales work best. The most important thing to remember is if the colors look good together, more often than not the prints will too. In the 1940s, the humble stripe had its day yet again, thanks to the gangster uniform, which led to the infamous 'zoot suit' worn to make a political statement by communities that were often ignored.